Family of man shot instead of Tasered by Madera cop gets $775,000

Ari Bloomekatz

The city of Madera has settled a federal civil rights lawsuit over an incident in which a police officer shot and killed a man after she mistakenly pulled her gun instead of a Taser.

Everado Torres, 24, was handcuffed and in the back of a police cruiser on Oct. 27, 2002, after police had gone to quell a loud party. Torres was arrested on suspicion of battery on an officer and resisting police, according to the Fresno Bee.

While he was inside the patrol car, Torres was combative and kicking the doors and windows when Madera police officer Marcy Noriega told him to stop. When he didn't, she tried to use a Taser but instead drew her Glock handgun and fatally shot Torres, the Bee reported.

The city of Madera will pay $775,000 to Torres' family to settle the suit.